DAC-2015-03

DAC-2015-03 is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) project located approximately 30 kilometers southeast of Charleville, in the Murweh Shire of Queensland. Registered in July 2015, the project spans a substantial area of 20,799 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion. This region is historically dominated by pastoral leases, where land use primarily focuses on grazing sheep and cattle on native vegetation.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth methodology, which is distinct from the more common Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) method. While both aim to restore forest cover, NFMR is specifically designed for land that has undergone comprehensive clearing for pastoral use in the past. By ceasing mechanical or chemical destruction, such as chaining or herbicide application, the project allows native vegetation (typically Mulga communities) to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers.

Environmentally, the Charleville region is classified as semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500mm, which is summer-dominant. The landscape typically features Kandosols (red earths) and sandy loams, which support the resilience of the Mulga (Acacia aneura) vegetation. The project integrates carbon farming with ongoing pastoral activities, demonstrating how grazing properties can diversify income by managing regrowth rather than suppressing it.

An interesting corporate detail is that the proponent, Devine Agribusiness Carbon (DAC), was acquired by the major environmental markets investor GreenCollar in July 2021. DAC was originally established by local graziers and consultants to develop carbon projects that fit practical farming operations in Queensland. A variation to the project area occurred in July 2016, removing certain land parcels from the project boundary.